Hornets Vs Pacers: Charlotte Cruises to 133-109 Win at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
The hornets vs pacers matchup ended with the Charlotte Hornets defeating the Indiana Pacers 133-109. The result landed against a backdrop of contrasting lines and projections and matters for Indiana’s season trajectory given the roster absences and draft implications the preview coverage highlighted.
Gainbridge Fieldhouse: Final score, game timing and viewing details
The contest, listed as Game 60 in preview materials, was played at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Pregame listings placed the tip at 7 p. m. ET on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Broadcast windows named FanDuel Sports Network and NBA League Pass as the ways to watch.
Hornets Vs Pacers: Betting lines, point totals and projections
Betting coverage showed minor but notable discrepancies in the market ahead of the game. One line had the Pacers as heavy underdogs by 13 points with a point total of 229. 5; another set of game lines listed the Hornets at -12. 5 with a money line of -800 and an over/under of 228. 5. All NBA betting lines, odds and prop bets were listed from FanDuel Sportsbook, and numberFire projected a Hornets win with a 71. 4% probability. The difference between a 12. 5- and 13-point spread and a one-point variance in the total is small on paper but can shape betting strategy and market sentiment.
Charlotte Hornets: availability and performance context
Charlotte entered the matchup with a 28-31 record and a 16-15 mark on the road in preview materials. The Hornets were described as having their full rotation available for the game and were riding a franchise-record eight-game road winning streak. Pre-game coverage flagged a late-game habit — waiting until the third quarter to lift its level of play — but suggested there was no roster reason they should not take this contest.
Pacers roster issues: injuries, rotation and on-court consequences
Indiana’s availability picture in the previews was stark. One set of preseason figures listed the Pacers with a 25-44 record and a 10-20 home mark; another source listed them at 15-44, creating an inconsistency that is unclear in the provided context. Multiple Pacers were listed as out or questionable: Tyrese Haliburton-out (achilles), Ivica Zubac-out (ankle), Aaron Nemsith-out (ankle), Johnny Furphy-out (knee), Pascal Siakam-doubtful (wrist), Andrew Nembhard-questionable (back) and Obi Toppin-questionable (foot). Previews noted the Pacers would enter with only one player from a plausible starting lineup, Jarace Walker, who was identified as an eighth overall pick a couple of years ago and described as having struggled with efficiency in a larger role.
Rotation concerns and matchup anecdotes: Walker, Huff and McConnell
Beyond Walker, commentary spotlighted Jay Huff and TJ McConnell as matchup spoilers for Charlotte in earlier meetings: Huff was said to have “went nuts” in the first meeting and not to have missed a shot in the second, while McConnell was listed as averaging 18. 5 points in the first two games and also recording a perfect-shooting performance in one of those contests. The previews framed Indiana as having the league’s worst offense and a defense that was not substantially better, noting the team had shown competence in January but had reverted to losing almost every game in February and had recently dropped back-to-back contests to the Wizards.
Wider context: franchise trajectory, draft implications and media coverage
Pre-game analysis traced Indiana’s fall from an NBA Finals appearance the previous season and connected the current slide to expectations after Haliburton’s achilles tear. Coverage suggested the franchise is careening toward a top pick in a draft characterized as loaded, with the hope that next season could feature a core of Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac if the team retains its pick; the commentary added that, in the present moment, none of those players were available. What makes this notable is how quickly a roster’s health can shift a team’s competitive and strategic outlook.
The preview and betting pages also included broader wagering content and promotion: FanDuel Research links and editorial prompts to sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy were present, as was a schedule listing for FanDuel TV’s NBA show Run It Back with Lou Williams, Michelle Beadle, DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins and Chandler Parsons airing weekdays at 10 a. m. ET on FanDuel TV and on the Run It Back YouTube page and podcast platforms. The betting page further listed related previews for the 2026 Fountain of Youth Stakes and Gotham Stakes plus Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct Racetrack picks for February 28, an NHL prediction for Penguins vs Rangers on Feb. 28, and a Michigan vs Illinois college preview.
After the 133-109 final, the immediate impact is clear: Charlotte extended its road success and left Indiana’s depleted lineup to shoulder another loss, reinforcing the draft and rebuild narrative that framed the matchup in previews.
